Dispensing device



April 25, 1961 H. B. RUSSELL 2,981,445

DIsPENsING DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wai/Kers,

April 25, 1961 H. B. RUSSELL 2,981,445

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DISPENSING DEVICE Harry B. Russell, 381i Marine Ave., lst. Louis, M0.

Filed Nov. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 773,271 's claims. (ci. zzz- 259) This invention relates to an improved dispensing de vice, and in particular, to a dispensing device which is adapted to be secured to different sizes of containers of the conventional type for dispensing the contents there from in small predetermined quantities.

The present device is especially adapted Ito be used with cylindrical cans which contain hand soap for mechanics and laborers or vother persons who might require special soaps or compounds to remove heavy dirt, grease and other foreign substances from their hands. Such cans are usually about 51/2 inches in diameter and 71/2 inches tall, although these dimensions vary within certain limits, and are frequently referred to as pound grease cans.

In the past, dispensing devices for such cans were difficult to mount to the can, required the use of heavy springs which presented installation difficulties, were mounted on Wall brackets in such a manner that the can in many instances had to be mounted upside-down, `thereby causing the trademark and directions on the can to be upside-down. In addition, it was and is impossible to tell when the contents of the containers were low or empty and a new container required. Furthermore, the prior devices in many instances were adapted to be secured to only one specific size of can, and in many instances if the diameter varied a small fraction of an inch, the dispensing device was useless for that particular container.

The principal object of the present invention is -to provide a simple dispensing device which can be easily secured to a container and which lits different sizes of containers within limits. Another object is to provide a device which can be set on a at surface or be secured to a wall as desired, which shows yautomatically at all times how much of the contents still remain within the container, and which provides a nozzle which can be rotated 360 in either direction so that users of the dispensing device need not stand in line or orient themselves in front ofthe dispenser in order to use it.

'Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device which uses a lower or basket member to force the cover member against the container, said lower member being of such size and height and being provided with adjustable means thereon so that the dispenser can be used with containers of different heights and different diameters within limits.

. These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

Briey, the invention comprises a dispenser having a cover member and a lower member for maintaining the cover member in contacting relation with the top edge of a container whose top has been removed,a tube slidably received in an opening in said cover member, a plate connected to the lower portion of the tube, a nozzle connected to the upperr portion of the tube above the plane of said cover member and rotatable relative to said cover member, and a pump connected to said nozzle for dispensing the contents of the container.

Y The invention also consists in the parts and in the ar- 2,981,445 Patented Apr. 25, 1961 rangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying vdrawings which form part of this specification and wherein like numerals and letters refer to like parts wherever they occur:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a dispensing device embodying the present invention secured to a cylindrical can,

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the device,

Fig. 3 isa side elevational view thereof showing the nozzle in its lower position in solid lines and in its uppe or initial position in dotted lines,

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2 after the nozzle has been rotated 45 to a position opposite one of the barrel nuts, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of `the lower or basket member itself.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a dispensing device 1 having a cover member 2 and a basket or lower member 3 forming a receiving chamber 4 in which a container or can 5 is xedly positioned. The can 5 has a bottom 6, an upstanding wall 7 having an inside surface 8 and an upper edge 9.

The cover member 2 is made from material of substantially4 uniform thickness and is generally circular with an outer depending flange 10 therearound. A bracket 11 with holes 12 therein is provided should it be desired to attach the device to a wall in a wash-room or the like. The cover member 2 has a dome or curved head 13 with a central opening 14 therethrough surrounded by a downwardly extending flange 15. The dome 13 allows the ange 15 to be as long as possible so as to provide a largev bearing surface 16. The cover 2 has two extensions or ears 17 with sloping portions 18 thereon extending outwardly'therefrom to' provide notches 19 for receiving the basket member 3, and an annular at portion 20 of suitable width positioned between said ange 10 and said curved head 13 for receiving the upper rim or edge 9 of cans 5 of various diameters.

A hollow shaft or vertical tube 21 is slidably received within the opening 14 and held in a vertical position along the axis Z2 of the device 1 and container 5 by means of the bearing surface 16 on the flange 15. The lower portion of the tube 21 has a reduced portion 23 which slidably receives a rigid plate 24 having a exible edge portion 25 connected thereto. The plate 24 is prevented from falling from the tube 21 by means of a stop 26, such as a cotter pin. The plate 24 is preferably metallic and the flexible edge portion thereof 25 is preferably made from rubber, plastic, or a suitable resilient material. The flexible edge portion 25 is in slidable leakproof relation with the inside wall S of the container 5 and has an internal groove so that it may be snapped over the steel plate as shown and secured thereto without the aid of bolts or other means. The plate 24 is free to rotate easily and completely around the reduced portion 23 of the tube 21. No spring is required to normally bias the plate 24 downwardly. The tube 21 is of such length that its upper portion 27 is just slightly above the cover member 2 or tiush with the top of it when the plate 24 is adjacent to the bottom 6 of the tallest container likely to be used with the device.

The upper portion 27 of the tube 21 has a nozzle 28 connected thereto, said nozzle 28 having an enlarged portion 29 with a pump chamber 30 and a passage 31 v extending therefrom. The tube 2.1 and nozzle 28 are connected to the enlarged portion 29 and comprises a knob 34 with a pump rod 35 extending downwardly therefrom and slidable through the enlarged portion 29. A washer 36 is secured to the pump rod 35 with a backup washer 37 and nut 38 therebelow, said washer 36 being maintained in spaced relation with the roof 39 of said pump chamber 30 in the enlarged portion 29 by means of a spacer 40. If desired, the spacer 4l) may be eliminated and the diameter of the pump rod 35 can be increased within the pump chamber 3l). A spring 41 is positioned between the knob 34 and the enlarged portion 2.9 to normally bias the knob 34 and pump washer 36 upwardly. The enlarged portion 29 has an upper annular recess with an O ring 53 therein and a fiber washer 54 thereabove circumscribing the pump rod 35 to prevent leakage and to form a lower seat for the bottom coil of the spring 41. The passage 31 in the nozzle 28 is separate from the cover member 2, and because the tube 21 slides through the cover member 2, the passage 31 is free to be rotated 360 with respect to the cover member 2.

The basket member 3 compses a U-shaped member 42 having a bottom 43 and two upstanding side portions 44 having threads 45 thereon adapted to receive a long barrel nut 46 having a knurled enlargement 47 at the top thereof. A second U-shaped member 48 having a bottom 49 and short lingers 5G is secured to the first U-shaped member 42 preferably by welding it at right angles thereto. The bottoms 43 and 49 should be on the same level and hence, each has a cut-out portion 51 at the intersection 52. rThis enables the lower member 3 to rest flatly on a flat surface without wobbling, and allows the bottom 6 of a can 5 to rest fiatly on both bottoms 43 and 49.

In operation, a container of hand soap or the like is suitably prepared by completely removing the circular top. The container is then placed within the chamber 4 and on the bottoms 43 and 49 of the basket member 3 between the upstanding portions 44 and 50. The cover member 2 is then applied by first moving the plate 24 to its uppermost position adjacent to the underside of the cover. The annular flat portion is placed on the upper edge 9 of the can S so that the notches 19 can be moved to receive the barrel nuts 46. The nuts 46 are then tightened by rotating the enlarged portions 47 with the fingers. The rearwardly sloping portions 18 tend to prevent the enlarged portions 47 from becoming disengaged. The pump 33 is then pumped several times by depressing the knob 34 with the heel of the hand so that the contents are drawn and/or forced up into the tube 21 and start flowing from the nozzle 2S on each stroke.

The operation of the pump 33 is the same as in conventional pumps, that is, as the washer 36 moves downwardly it creates a partial vacuum in the pump chamber 30 so that the vacuum together with the positive force exerted through the tube 21 on the plate 24 against the contents causes the contents to move upwardly past the washer 36. When the knob 34 is released, the spring 41 forces the washer 36 upwardly thereby forcing the contents outwardly through the passage 31 in the nozzle 28. This is a common and well known conventional type of pump.

The force exerted on or against the knob 34 is transmitted to the plate 24 to help force the contents from the container 5. Before the spring 41 is fully compressed, most of the force is used to lower the washer 36 in the chamber 30, but part of said downward force is transmitted through the spring 41 to the enlarged portion 29 of the nozzle 28 to the tube 21 and plate 24. If the spring 41 becomes fully compressed, all of the downward force thereafter exerted against the knob 34 is transmitted to the plate 24 thereby tending to force the contents upwardly into the tube 21. This action aids the pumping action and helps force the contents upwardly past the washer 36 as it moves downwardly.

As the contents are dispensed, the nozzle 2S and shaft 21 move downwardly from their initial position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 4 and finally to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 3. Thus, the vertical position of the nozzle 28 serves as an indicator and one can see at all times how much hand soap is in the can and when a new can is required. Since the tube 21 slides through the cover member 2 and is free to rotate within the plate 24 and cover 2, the nozzle 28 can be pivoted easily with one finger to any desired position within 360 so that persons standing around a table with this device in the center can simply rotate the nozzle 28 to a position in front of them in order to get their supply of hand soap. It is not necessary, as with present devices, for each user to line up and orient himself directly in front of a fixed nozzle.

The present device allows a container to be positioned upright either on a flat surface or attached to a wall so that the trademark and the directions for use on the can are readable. Cans of different heights can be used since the long nuts 46 and long threads 45 form a vertical adjustment. If the limits of adjustment are exceeded, longer or shorter nuts 46 can be easily substituted. Cans of different diameters can be used because of the annular flat portion 29, whose width is such that it will fit the various diameters of cans most likely to be used. The plate 24 with its flexible edge 25 is of such rigidity and stiffness that the inner wall 8 of the can 5 is wiped clean as the plate 24 moves downwardly. Obviously, when a different size can is used, a plate of a different diameter must be used. This is accomplished by removing the cotter pin 26 and substituting a plate and flexible edge of the proper diameter.

To remove a used can from the device, the nuts 46 are loosened and moved out of the notches 19 thereby freeing the basket member 3 from the container and cover member 2. The cover member 2 with the slidable tube 21 and parts attached thereto are moved upwardly until the plate 24 is out of the can. Obviously, this device can be used for dispensing any type of viscous substance, such as hand soap, grease, oil, cream substances, etc.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A dispensing device adapted to be secured to a containerl for dispensing the contents therefrom, said device comprising a lower member adapted to receive said container, said device having upstanding members extending upwardly beyond the height of said container, said upstanding members being adjustable in height, a cover member adapted to contact the top portion of said container and receive said upstanding members, said cover member being larger in size than said container and having an annular at portion with a depending flange therearound and a dome portion inwardly thereof, said dome portion having an opening in the central portion thereof with a downwardly extending flange, a hollow tube slidably received in said opening and maintained in a vertical position by said downwardly extending flange, said tube having a reduced portion on the lower end thereof, a plate rotatably and removably connected to said reduced portion, said plate having a exible outer edge adapted to slidably contact the inside wall of said container substantially over its entire circumference, means for maintaining said plate on said reduced portion of said tube, a nozzle connected to the upper portion of said tube, said nozzle having a pumping chamber therein in connection with said hollow tube and a passage extending outwardly therefrom, a pump connected to said nozzle for pumping the contents out of said nozzle, said pump having a knob and either direction 360 with respect to said cover member.V

v2. A dispensing device adapted to be secured to a container for dispensing the contents therefrom, said device comprising a lower member adapted to receive said container, said device having opstanding members extending upwardly beyond the height of said container, said upstanding members being adjustable in height, a cover member adapted to contact the top portion of said container and receive said upstanding members, said cover member being larger in size than said container and having an annular flat portion with a depending flange therearound and a dome portion inwardly thereof, saidv dome portion having an opening in the central portion thereof with a flange extending downwardly to a point about in the plane of said annular flat portion, a hollow tube slidably received in said opening and maintained in a vertical position by said latter mentioned flange, said tube having a reduced portion on the lower end thereof, a plate rotatably and removably connected to said reduced portion, said plate having a flexible outer edge adapted to slidably contact the inside wall of said container substantially over its entire circumference, means for maintaining said plate on said reduced portion of said tube, a nozzle connected to the upper portion of said tube, said nozzle having a pumping chamber therein in connection with said hollow tube and a passage extending outwardly therefrom, a pump connected to said nozzle for pumping the contents out of said nozzle, said pump having a knob and a pump rod with a spring therearound, said spring positioned between said knob and said nozzle, the downward movement of said knob rst compressing said spring to cause a pumping action and to transmit part of the force to the plate until such time as the individual turns of said spring contact one another at which point further downward movement of the knob causes all of the force to be transmitted to said tube and said plate thereby forcing said plate against the contents and tending to force the contents upwardly through said hollow tube into the pumping chamber, said nozzle remaining at all times at a Xed predetermined distance above said plate, the distance between said nozzle and said cover member being reduced as said contents are dispensed, said nozzle being capable of being rotated in either direction 360 with respect to said cover member.

3, The dispensing device set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper portion of said enlarged portion is provided with leakproof means circumscribing the pump rod and with seat means thereabove in contacting relation with the bottom portion of said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,754,668 Cary Apr. 15, 1930 2,080,856 Thomas May 18, 1937 2,083,590 Barks June 15, 1937 2,630,248 Hinz Mar. 3, 1953 2,655,287 Campbell Oct. 13, 1953 2,665,824 Anderson Ian. 12, 1954 

